Newcastle boss Dean Richards is determined to lead the Falcons back to the top of the English game - beginning with promotion from the RFU Championship.

The former Harlequins coach - recently returned from a three-year ban for his part in Bloodgate - will seek to restore Newcastle to their former glory, with the club having endured a number of lean years after lifting the Premiership in 1998.

Richards has experience in the second tier, having guided Quins back into the top flight before laying the foundations for their Aviva Premiership title last season.

"It's my goal to, whether it's in a year, two years, five years or whatever," Richards said. "It is my goal and it is also the ambition of the owner, Semore Kurdi. The potential within the area is absolutely massive."

Richards is well aware of the different challenges posed by the Championship and is keen to ensure that his side doesn't get caught out too many times in the coming months.

"It is a challenging place to be," Richards said. "I have been there before, I know what it is all about. You only need to have a slight off day and you will be taken to the cleaners.

"You can go through the season and be very disrespectful just thinking it is a job that has got to be done and not have much input. But a lot of the boys will be going to places they have never visited before and they have never experienced the facilities, the crowds, the locations that we are going to do this year.

"You may as well go to these places and enjoy it and understand you are going there for a reason - to win a game - but you can go there and still enjoy yourself. I have always adopted that and hopefully we will have a bit of fun with the opposition as well."